Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC01056’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC01056’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; early flowering habit; light yellow-colored flowers; and good weather tolerance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Calibrachoa sp. cultivarKLEC01056.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KLEC01056’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a mutation induction breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objectiveof the program is to create new early-flowering Calibrachoa cultivarswith compact and cascading growth habit, freely branching habit, andattractive flower colors.

The new cultivar originated by exposing unrooted cuttings of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as S 146, not patented,to X-ray radiation in Stuttgart, Germany. Terminal cuttings wereharvested from the irradiated plants, planted and flowered in acontrolled environment in Stuttgart, Germany. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin this population in September, 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since September, 1999, hasshown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar KLEC01056 have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, water status and fertility level without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLEC01056’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLEC01056’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

1. Cascading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Early flowering habit.

4. Light yellow-colored flowers.

5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to rain and low and hightemperatures.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the parentselection primarily in flower color as plants of the selection S146 havewhite and red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a side perspective view oftypical plants of ‘KLEC01056’ grown in a hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in12-cm containers were used for following description. Plants were grownunder conditions which closely approximate commercial productionconditions during the fall and winter in Stuttgart, Germany inglass-covered greenhouse. Plants used for the description and thephotograph were about five months from planting rooted cuttings. Duringthe production period, day and night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18°C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux.

Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLEC01056.

Parentage: Induced mutation of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoasp. identified as S 146, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.—Summer: About 21 days at 20 to 26°C. Winter: About 28 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, well-branched, and white incolor.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright to semi-upright thencascading; uniform flattened mounded appearance.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patiocontainers.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About 12 cm.

Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 65 cm.

Growth rate.—Relatively moderate.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, about 6 lateral branches per plant;pinching is typically not required.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.Internode length: About 0.5 to 3.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting; sessile. Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 1 to 3 cm.Width: About 0.8 to 1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Apex: Broadlyacute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Youngfoliage, upper surface: 144A. Young foliage, lower surface: 143C. Fullyexpanded foliage, upper surface: 137B. Fully expanded foliage, lowersurface: 137D. Venation, upper surface: 137B. Venation, lower surface:144B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Flowers face somewhat upright or outward; single,axillary; salverform. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering habit,about 12 to 15 open flowers and about 20 to 25 flower buds per lateralstem. Flowers not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn; floweringcontinuous.

Time to flower.—Early flowering; plants begin flowering about 12 weeksafter planting.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About 6 to 7 days.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Tube length: About 1.3 cm. Throatdiameter, distal end: About 7 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 1mm.

Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter:About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly oblong. Color: 151A.

Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, fused intoflared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 9 mm. Petal width: About1 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate with obtuse apex. Petal margin:Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.Color: Petal, upper surface, when opening and fully opened: 2B; colorchanging to 1B with subsequent development; venation, 150A. Petal, lowersurface, when opening and fully opened: 2C; venation, 150A. Flowerthroat (inside): 2B; venation, 150A. Flower tube (outside): 2B;venation, 150A.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,star-shaped. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptic.Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,glabrous. Color: Upper surface: 146A. Lower surface: 146B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 to 2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Strength:Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 75° from vertical. Texture:Glabrous, smooth. Color: 143A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five or six per flower. Anthershape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 to 2 mm. Anther color: 11B.Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 11B. Pistils: Quantity: One perflower. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:149A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 150A. Ovary color: 154A.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been notedto be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Calibrachoa havenot been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common toCalibrachoas.

Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa aretolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to toleratetemperatures from 1 to 50° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named‘KLEC01056’, as illustrated and described.